Channel Access Scheme Enhancements

ABSTRACT

Apparatuses, systems, and methods for channel access scheme enhancements for systems operating in unlicensed higher frequency bands. A wireless device may perform channel access detection (CAD) measurements on a channel at a first periodicity, determine a CAD metric based on the CAD measurements at a second periodicity, and select, for the channel, a first channel access scheme from a plurality of channel access schemes based on comparison of the CAD metric to a threshold. The first channel access scheme may include a first set of channel access procedures that may define physical channels and signals to utilize respective channel procedures. In instances when the CAD metric is below the threshold, the first channel access scheme may include accessing a channel using a first listen before talk (LBT) procedure that is less restrictive than a second LTB procedure used when the CAD metric is above the threshold.

FIELD

The invention relates to wireless communications, and more particularlyto apparatuses, systems, and methods for channel access schemeenhancements for systems operating in higher frequency unlicensedfrequency bands, e.g., such as systems operating in frequency bandsabove 52.6 GHz.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

Wireless communication systems are rapidly growing in usage. In recentyears, wireless devices such as smart phones and tablet computers havebecome increasingly sophisticated. In addition to supporting telephonecalls, many mobile devices now provide access to the internet, email,text messaging, and navigation using the global positioning system(GPS), and are capable of operating sophisticated applications thatutilize these functionalities.

Long Term Evolution (LTE) has become the technology of choice for themajority of wireless network operators worldwide, providing mobilebroadband data and high-speed Internet access to their subscriber base.LTE defines a number of downlink (DL) physical channels, categorized astransport or control channels, to carry information blocks received frommedium access control (MAC) and higher layers. LTE also defines a numberof physical layer channels for the uplink (UL).

For example, LTE defines a Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH) as aDL transport channel. The PDSCH is the main data-bearing channelallocated to users on a dynamic and opportunistic basis. The PDSCHcarries data in Transport Blocks (TB) corresponding to a MAC protocoldata unit (PDU), passed from the MAC layer to the physical (PHY) layeronce per Transmission Time Interval (TTI). The PDSCH is also used totransmit broadcast information such as System Information Blocks (SIB)and paging messages.

As another example, LTE defines a Physical Downlink Control Channel(PDCCH) as a DL control channel that carries the resource assignment forUEs that are contained in a Downlink Control Information (DCI) message.Multiple PDCCHs can be transmitted in the same subframe using ControlChannel Elements (CCE), each of which is a nine set of four resourceelements known as Resource Element Groups (REG). The PDCCH employsquadrature phase-shift keying (QPSK) modulation, with four QPSK symbolsmapped to each REG. Furthermore, 1, 2, 4, or 8 CCEs can be used for aUE, depending on channel conditions, to ensure sufficient robustness.

Additionally, LTE defines a Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH) as aUL channel shared by all devices (user equipment, UE) in a radio cell totransmit user data to the network. The scheduling for all UEs is undercontrol of the LTE base station (enhanced Node B, or eNB). The eNB usesthe uplink scheduling grant (DCI format 0) to inform the UE aboutresource block (RB) assignment, and the modulation and coding scheme tobe used. PUSCH typically supports QPSK and quadrature amplitudemodulation (QAM). In addition to user data, the PUSCH also carries anycontrol information necessary to decode the information, such astransport format indicators and multiple-in multiple-out (MIMO)parameters. Control data is multiplexed with information data prior todigital Fourier transform (DFT) spreading.

A proposed next telecommunications standard moving beyond the currentInternational Mobile Telecommunications-Advanced (IMT-Advanced)Standards is called 5th generation mobile networks or 5th generationwireless systems, or 5G for short (otherwise known as 5G-NR for 5G NewRadio, also simply referred to as NR). 5G-NR may provide a highercapacity for a higher density of mobile broadband users, also supportingdevice-to-device, ultra-reliable, and massive machine typecommunications with lower latency and/or lower battery consumption.Further, the 5G-NR may allow for more flexible UE scheduling as comparedto current LTE. Consequently, efforts are being made in ongoingdevelopments of 5G-NR to take advantage of higher throughputs possibleat higher frequencies.

SUMMARY

Embodiments relate to wireless communications, and more particularly toapparatuses, systems, and methods for channel access scheme enhancementsfor systems operating in higher frequency unlicensed frequency bands,e.g., such as systems operating in frequency bands above 52.6 GHz.

For example, in some embodiments, a wireless device (e.g., such as UE106, base station/pico cell 102, and/or access point 112) may beconfigured to perform one or more channel access detection (CAD)measurements on a first channel at a first periodicity. In someembodiments, the first periodicity may be based, at least in part, ontraffic characteristics of the wireless device and/or may be configuredby a network and/or specified by a standard or regulation. In someembodiments, the CAD measurement may be at least one of energy based,reference signal based, or a combination of energy based and referencesignal based. Additionally, the wireless device may be configured todetermine a CAD metric based on the one or more CAD measurements at asecond periodicity. In some embodiments, the second periodicity may be amultiple of the first periodicity. In some embodiments, the secondperiodicity may be based, at least in part, on traffic characteristicsof the wireless device and/or configured by a network and/or specifiedby a standard or regulation. Further, the wireless device may beconfigured to select, for the first channel, a first channel accessscheme from a plurality of channel access schemes based on comparison ofthe CAD metric to a threshold. In some embodiments, the first channelaccess scheme may include a first set of channel access procedures. Insuch embodiments, the first set of channel access procedures may definephysical channels and signals to utilize respective channel procedureswithin the first channel access scheme. In some embodiments, when theCAD metric is below the threshold, the first channel access scheme mayinclude accessing a channel using a first listen before talk procedurethat is less restrictive than a second listen before talk procedure usedwhen the CAD metric is above the threshold. In some embodiments, thethreshold may be configured by the network and/or specified by astandard or regulation.

The techniques described herein may be implemented in and/or used with anumber of different types of devices, including but not limited tounmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), unmanned aerial controllers (UACs), aUTM server, base stations, access points, cellular phones, tabletcomputers, wearable computing devices, portable media players, and anyof various other computing devices.

This Summary is intended to provide a brief overview of some of thesubject matter described in this document. Accordingly, it will beappreciated that the above-described features are merely examples andshould not be construed to narrow the scope or spirit of the subjectmatter described herein in any way. Other features, aspects, andadvantages of the subject matter described herein will become apparentfrom the following Detailed Description, Figures, and Claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A better understanding of the present subject matter can be obtainedwhen the following detailed description of various embodiments isconsidered in conjunction with the following drawings, in which:

FIG. 1A illustrates an example wireless communication system accordingto some embodiments.

FIG. 1B illustrates an example of a base station (BS) and an accesspoint in communication with a user equipment (UE) device according tosome embodiments.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example simplified block diagram of a WLAN AccessPoint (AP), according to some embodiments.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example block diagram of a BS according to someembodiments.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example block diagram of a server according tosome embodiments.

FIG. 5A illustrates an example block diagram of a UE according to someembodiments.

FIG. 5B illustrates an example block diagram of cellular communicationcircuitry, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 6A illustrates an example of connections between an EPC network, anLTE base station (eNB), and a 5G NR base station (gNB).

FIG. 6B illustrates an example of a protocol stack for an eNB and a gNB.

FIG. 7A illustrates an example of a 5G network architecture thatincorporates both 3GPP (e.g., cellular) and non-3GPP (e.g.,non-cellular) access to the 5G CN, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 7B illustrates an example of a 5G network architecture thatincorporates both dual 3GPP (e.g., LTE and 5G NR) access and non-3GPPaccess to the 5G CN, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 8 illustrates an example of a baseband processor architecture for aUE, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 9 illustrates an example of a simulation comparing LBT to non-LTBchannel access.

FIG. 10 illustrates an example of a procedure for determining a channelaccess scheme based on a CAD metric, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 11 illustrates another example of a procedure for determining achannel access scheme based on a CAD metric, according to someembodiments.

FIG. 12 illustrates an example of determining a channel access schemebased on multiple thresholds, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 13 illustrates an example of performing a CAD measurement during along cyclic prefix, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 14 illustrates an example of using beam dependent channel accessschemes, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 15 illustrates a block diagram of an example of a method forchannel access detection (CAD) measurement to determine a channel accessscheme, according to some embodiments.

While the features described herein may be susceptible to variousmodifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof areshown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described indetail. It should be understood, however, that the drawings and detaileddescription thereto are not intended to be limiting to the particularform disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover allmodifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spiritand scope of the subject matter as defined by the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Acronyms

Various acronyms are used throughout the present disclosure. Definitionsof the most prominently used acronyms that may appear throughout thepresent disclosure are provided below:

-   -   3GPP: Third Generation Partnership Project    -   UE: User Equipment    -   RF: Radio Frequency    -   BS: Base Station    -   DL: Downlink    -   UL: Uplink    -   LTE: Long Term Evolution    -   NR: New Radio    -   5GS: 5G System    -   5GMM: 5GS Mobility Management    -   5GC/5GCN: 5G Core Network    -   IE: Information Element    -   CE: Control Element    -   MAC: Medium Access Control    -   SSB: Synchronization Signal Block    -   CSI-RS: Channel State Information Reference Signal    -   PDCCH: Physical Downlink Control Channel    -   PDSCH: Physical Downlink Shared Channel    -   RRC: Radio Resource Control    -   RRM: Radio Resource Management    -   CORESET: Control Resource Set    -   TCI: Transmission Configuration Indicator    -   DCI: Downlink Control Indicator

Terms

The following is a glossary of terms used in this disclosure:

Memory Medium—Any of various types of non-transitory memory devices orstorage devices. The term “memory medium” is intended to include aninstallation medium, e.g., a CD-ROM, floppy disks, or tape device; acomputer system memory or random access memory such as DRAM, DDR RAM,SRAM, EDO RAM, Rambus RAM, etc.; a non-volatile memory such as a Flash,magnetic media, e.g., a hard drive, or optical storage; registers, orother similar types of memory elements, etc. The memory medium mayinclude other types of non-transitory memory as well or combinationsthereof. In addition, the memory medium may be located in a firstcomputer system in which the programs are executed, or may be located ina second different computer system which connects to the first computersystem over a network, such as the Internet. In the latter instance, thesecond computer system may provide program instructions to the firstcomputer for execution. The term “memory medium” may include two or morememory mediums which may reside in different locations, e.g., indifferent computer systems that are connected over a network. The memorymedium may store program instructions (e.g., embodied as computerprograms) that may be executed by one or more processors.

Carrier Medium—a memory medium as described above, as well as a physicaltransmission medium, such as a bus, network, and/or other physicaltransmission medium that conveys signals such as electrical,electromagnetic, or digital signals.

Programmable Hardware Element—includes various hardware devicescomprising multiple programmable function blocks connected via aprogrammable interconnect. Examples include FPGAs (Field ProgrammableGate Arrays), PLDs (Programmable Logic Devices), FPOAs (FieldProgrammable Object Arrays), and CPLDs (Complex PLDs). The programmablefunction blocks may range from fine grained (combinatorial logic or lookup tables) to coarse grained (arithmetic logic units or processorcores). A programmable hardware element may also be referred to as“reconfigurable logic”.

Computer System (or Computer)—any of various types of computing orprocessing systems, including a personal computer system (PC), mainframecomputer system, workstation, network appliance, Internet appliance,personal digital assistant (PDA), television system, grid computingsystem, or other device or combinations of devices. In general, the term“computer system” can be broadly defined to encompass any device (orcombination of devices) having at least one processor that executesinstructions from a memory medium.

User Equipment (UE) (or “UE Device”)—any of various types of computersystems devices which are mobile or portable and which performs wirelesscommunications. Examples of UE devices include mobile telephones orsmart phones (e.g., iPhone™, Android™-based phones), portable gamingdevices (e.g., Nintendo DS™, PlayStation Portable™, Gameboy Advance™,iPhone™), laptops, wearable devices (e.g. smart watch, smart glasses),PDAs, portable Internet devices, music players, data storage devices,other handheld devices, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) (e.g., drones),UAV controllers (UACs), and so forth. In general, the term “UE” or “UEdevice” can be broadly defined to encompass any electronic, computing,and/or telecommunications device (or combination of devices) which iseasily transported by a user and capable of wireless communication.

Base Station—The term “Base Station” has the full breadth of itsordinary meaning, and at least includes a wireless communication stationinstalled at a fixed location and used to communicate as part of awireless telephone system or radio system.

Processing Element (or Processor)—refers to various elements orcombinations of elements that are capable of performing a function in adevice, such as a user equipment or a cellular network device.Processing elements may include, for example: processors and associatedmemory, portions or circuits of individual processor cores, entireprocessor cores, processor arrays, circuits such as an ASIC (ApplicationSpecific Integrated Circuit), programmable hardware elements such as afield programmable gate array (FPGA), as well any of variouscombinations of the above.

Channel—a medium used to convey information from a sender (transmitter)to a receiver. It should be noted that since characteristics of the term“channel” may differ according to different wireless protocols, the term“channel” as used herein may be considered as being used in a mannerthat is consistent with the standard of the type of device withreference to which the term is used. In some standards, channel widthsmay be variable (e.g., depending on device capability, band conditions,etc.). For example, LTE may support scalable channel bandwidths from 1.4MHz to 20 MHz. In contrast, WLAN channels may be 22 MHz wide whileBluetooth channels may be 1 Mhz wide. Other protocols and standards mayinclude different definitions of channels. Furthermore, some standardsmay define and use multiple types of channels, e.g., different channelsfor uplink or downlink and/or different channels for different uses suchas data, control information, etc.

Band—The term “band” has the full breadth of its ordinary meaning, andat least includes a section of spectrum (e.g., radio frequency spectrum)in which channels are used or set aside for the same purpose.

Wi-Fi—The term “Wi-Fi” (or WiFi) has the full breadth of its ordinarymeaning, and at least includes a wireless communication network or RATthat is serviced by wireless LAN (WLAN) access points and which providesconnectivity through these access points to the Internet. Most modernWi-Fi networks (or WLAN networks) are based on IEEE 802.11 standards andare marketed under the name “Wi-Fi”. A Wi-Fi (WLAN) network is differentfrom a cellular network.

3GPP Access—refers to accesses (e.g., radio access technologies) thatare specified by 3GPP standards. These accesses include, but are notlimited to, GSM/GPRS, LTE, LTE-A, and/or 5G NR. In general, 3GPP accessrefers to various types of cellular access technologies.

Non-3GPP Access—refers any accesses (e.g., radio access technologies)that are not specified by 3GPP standards. These accesses include, butare not limited to, WiMAX, CDMA2000, Wi-Fi, WLAN, and/or fixed networks.Non-3GPP accesses may be split into two categories, “trusted” and“untrusted”: Trusted non-3GPP accesses can interact directly with anevolved packet core (EPC) and/or a 5G core (5GC) whereas untrustednon-3GPP accesses interwork with the EPC/5GC via a network entity, suchas an Evolved Packet Data Gateway and/or a 5G NR gateway. In general,non-3GPP access refers to various types on non-cellular accesstechnologies.

Automatically—refers to an action or operation performed by a computersystem (e.g., software executed by the computer system) or device (e.g.,circuitry, programmable hardware elements, ASICs, etc.), without userinput directly specifying or performing the action or operation. Thus,the term “automatically” is in contrast to an operation being manuallyperformed or specified by the user, where the user provides input todirectly perform the operation. An automatic procedure may be initiatedby input provided by the user, but the subsequent actions that areperformed “automatically” are not specified by the user, i.e., are notperformed “manually”, where the user specifies each action to perform.For example, a user filling out an electronic form by selecting eachfield and providing input specifying information (e.g., by typinginformation, selecting check boxes, radio selections, etc.) is fillingout the form manually, even though the computer system must update theform in response to the user actions. The form may be automaticallyfilled out by the computer system where the computer system (e.g.,software executing on the computer system) analyzes the fields of theform and fills in the form without any user input specifying the answersto the fields. As indicated above, the user may invoke the automaticfilling of the form, but is not involved in the actual filling of theform (e.g., the user is not manually specifying answers to fields butrather they are being automatically completed). The presentspecification provides various examples of operations beingautomatically performed in response to actions the user has taken.

Approximately—refers to a value that is almost correct or exact. Forexample, approximately may refer to a value that is within 1 to 10percent of the exact (or desired) value. It should be noted, however,that the actual threshold value (or tolerance) may be applicationdependent. For example, in some embodiments, “approximately” may meanwithin 0.1% of some specified or desired value, while in various otherembodiments, the threshold may be, for example, 2%, 3%, 5%, and soforth, as desired or as required by the particular application.

Concurrent—refers to parallel execution or performance, where tasks,processes, or programs are performed in an at least partiallyoverlapping manner. For example, concurrency may be implemented using“strong” or strict parallelism, where tasks are performed (at leastpartially) in parallel on respective computational elements, or using“weak parallelism”, where the tasks are performed in an interleavedmanner, e.g., by time multiplexing of execution threads.

Various components may be described as “configured to” perform a task ortasks. In such contexts, “configured to” is a broad recitation generallymeaning “having structure that” performs the task or tasks duringoperation. As such, the component can be configured to perform the taskeven when the component is not currently performing that task (e.g., aset of electrical conductors may be configured to electrically connect amodule to another module, even when the two modules are not connected).In some contexts, “configured to” may be a broad recitation of structuregenerally meaning “having circuitry that” performs the task or tasksduring operation. As such, the component can be configured to performthe task even when the component is not currently on. In general, thecircuitry that forms the structure corresponding to “configured to” mayinclude hardware circuits.

Various components may be described as performing a task or tasks, forconvenience in the description. Such descriptions should be interpretedas including the phrase “configured to.” Reciting a component that isconfigured to perform one or more tasks is expressly intended not toinvoke 35 U.S.C. § 112(f) interpretation for that component.

FIGS. 1A and 1B: Communication Systems

FIG. 1A illustrates a simplified example wireless communication system,according to some embodiments. It is noted that the system of FIG. 1A ismerely one example of a possible system, and that features of thisdisclosure may be implemented in any of various systems, as desired.

As shown, the example wireless communication system includes a basestation 102A which communicates over a transmission medium with one ormore user devices 106A, 106B, etc., through 106N. Each of the userdevices may be referred to herein as a “user equipment” (UE). Thus, theuser devices 106 are referred to as UEs or UE devices.

The base station (BS) 102A may be a base transceiver station (BTS) orcell site (a “cellular base station”) and may include hardware thatenables wireless communication with the UEs 106A through 106N.

The communication area (or coverage area) of the base station may bereferred to as a “cell.” The base station 102A and the UEs 106 may beconfigured to communicate over the transmission medium using any ofvarious radio access technologies (RATs), also referred to as wirelesscommunication technologies, or telecommunication standards, such as GSM,UMTS (associated with, for example, WCDMA or TD-SCDMA air interfaces),LTE, LTE-Advanced (LTE-A), 5G new radio (5G NR), HSPA, 3GPP2 CDMA2000(e.g., 1×RTT, 1×EV-DO, HRPD, eHRPD), etc. Note that if the base station102A is implemented in the context of LTE, it may alternately bereferred to as an ‘eNodeB’ or ‘eNB’. Note that if the base station 102Ais implemented in the context of 5G NR, it may alternately be referredto as ‘gNodeB’ or ‘gNB’.

As shown, the base station 102A may also be equipped to communicate witha network 100 (e.g., a core network of a cellular service provider, atelecommunication network such as a public switched telephone network(PSTN), and/or the Internet, among various possibilities). Thus, thebase station 102A may facilitate communication between the user devicesand/or between the user devices and the network 100. In particular, thecellular base station 102A may provide UEs 106 with varioustelecommunication capabilities, such as voice, SMS and/or data services.

Base station 102A and other similar base stations (such as base stations102B . . . 102N) operating according to the same or a different cellularcommunication standard may thus be provided as a network of cells, whichmay provide continuous or nearly continuous overlapping service to UEs106A-N and similar devices over a geographic area via one or morecellular communication standards.

Thus, while base station 102A may act as a “serving cell” for UEs 106A-Nas illustrated in FIG. 1, each UE 106 may also be capable of receivingsignals from (and possibly within communication range of) one or moreother cells (which might be provided by base stations 102B-N and/or anyother base stations), which may be referred to as “neighboring cells”.Such cells may also be capable of facilitating communication betweenuser devices and/or between user devices and the network 100. Such cellsmay include “macro” cells, “micro” cells, “pico” cells, and/or cellswhich provide any of various other granularities of service area size.For example, base stations 102A-B illustrated in FIG. 1 might be macrocells, while base station 102N might be a micro cell. Otherconfigurations are also possible.

In some embodiments, base station 102A may be a next generation basestation, e.g., a 5G New Radio (5G NR) base station, or “gNB”. In someembodiments, a gNB may be connected to a legacy evolved packet core(EPC) network and/or to a NR core (NRC) network. In addition, a gNB cellmay include one or more transition and reception points (TRPs). Inaddition, a UE capable of operating according to 5G NR may be connectedto one or more TRPs within one or more gNBs.

Note that a UE 106 may be capable of communicating using multiplewireless communication standards. For example, the UE 106 may beconfigured to communicate using a wireless networking (e.g., Wi-Fi)and/or peer-to-peer wireless communication protocol (e.g., Bluetooth,Wi-Fi peer-to-peer, etc.) in addition to at least one cellularcommunication protocol (e.g., GSM, UMTS (associated with, for example,WCDMA or TD-SCDMA air interfaces), LTE, LTE-A, 5G NR, HSPA, 3GPP2CDMA2000 (e.g., 1×RTT, 1×EV-DO, HRPD, eHRPD), etc.). The UE 106 may alsoor alternatively be configured to communicate using one or more globalnavigational satellite systems (GNSS, e.g., GPS or GLONASS), one or moremobile television broadcasting standards (e.g., ATSC-M/H or DVB-H),and/or any other wireless communication protocol, if desired. Othercombinations of wireless communication standards (including more thantwo wireless communication standards) are also possible.

FIG. 1B illustrates user equipment 106 (e.g., one of the devices 106Athrough 106N) in communication with a base station 102 and an accesspoint 112, according to some embodiments. The UE 106 may be a devicewith both cellular communication capability and non-cellularcommunication capability (e.g., Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and so forth) such asa mobile phone, a hand-held device, a computer or a tablet, or virtuallyany type of wireless device.

The UE 106 may include a processor that is configured to execute programinstructions stored in memory. The UE 106 may perform any of the methodembodiments described herein by executing such stored instructions.Alternatively, or in addition, the UE 106 may include a programmablehardware element such as an FPGA (field-programmable gate array) that isconfigured to perform any of the method embodiments described herein, orany portion of any of the method embodiments described herein.

The UE 106 may include one or more antennas for communicating using oneor more wireless communication protocols or technologies. In someembodiments, the UE 106 may be configured to communicate using, forexample, CDMA2000 (1×RTT/1×EV-DO/HRPD/eHRPD), LTE/LTE-Advanced, or 5G NRusing a single shared radio and/or GSM, LTE, LTE-Advanced, or 5G NRusing the single shared radio. The shared radio may couple to a singleantenna, or may couple to multiple antennas (e.g., for MIMO) forperforming wireless communications. In general, a radio may include anycombination of a baseband processor, analog RF signal processingcircuitry (e.g., including filters, mixers, oscillators, amplifiers,etc.), or digital processing circuitry (e.g., for digital modulation aswell as other digital processing). Similarly, the radio may implementone or more receive and transmit chains using the aforementionedhardware. For example, the UE 106 may share one or more parts of areceive and/or transmit chain between multiple wireless communicationtechnologies, such as those discussed above.

In some embodiments, the UE 106 may include separate transmit and/orreceive chains (e.g., including separate antennas and other radiocomponents) for each wireless communication protocol with which it isconfigured to communicate. As a further possibility, the UE 106 mayinclude one or more radios which are shared between multiple wirelesscommunication protocols, and one or more radios which are usedexclusively by a single wireless communication protocol. For example,the UE 106 might include a shared radio for communicating using eitherof LTE or 5G NR (or LTE or 1×RTT or LTE or GSM), and separate radios forcommunicating using each of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Other configurationsare also possible.

FIG. 2: Access Point Block Diagram

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary block diagram of an access point (AP)112. It is noted that the block diagram of the AP of FIG. 2 is only oneexample of a possible system. As shown, the AP 112 may includeprocessor(s) 204 which may execute program instructions for the AP 112.The processor(s) 204 may also be coupled (directly or indirectly) tomemory management unit (MMU) 240, which may be configured to receiveaddresses from the processor(s) 204 and to translate those addresses tolocations in memory (e.g., memory 260 and read only memory (ROM) 250) orto other circuits or devices.

The AP 112 may include at least one network port 270. The network port270 may be configured to couple to a wired network and provide aplurality of devices, such as UEs 106, access to the Internet. Forexample, the network port 270 (or an additional network port) may beconfigured to couple to a local network, such as a home network or anenterprise network. For example, port 270 may be an Ethernet port. Thelocal network may provide connectivity to additional networks, such asthe Internet.

The AP 112 may include at least one antenna 234, which may be configuredto operate as a wireless transceiver and may be further configured tocommunicate with UE 106 via wireless communication circuitry 230. Theantenna 234 communicates with the wireless communication circuitry 230via communication chain 232. Communication chain 232 may include one ormore receive chains, one or more transmit chains or both. The wirelesscommunication circuitry 230 may be configured to communicate via Wi-Fior WLAN, e.g., 802.11. The wireless communication circuitry 230 mayalso, or alternatively, be configured to communicate via various otherwireless communication technologies, including, but not limited to, 5GNR, Long-Term Evolution (LTE), LTE Advanced (LTE-A), Global System forMobile (GSM), Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), CDMA2000,etc., for example when the AP is co-located with a base station in caseof a small cell, or in other instances when it may be desirable for theAP 112 to communicate via various different wireless communicationtechnologies.

In some embodiments, as further described below, an AP 112 may beconfigured to perform methods for channel access scheme enhancements forsystems operating in higher frequency unlicensed frequency bands asfurther described herein.

FIG. 3: Block Diagram of a Base Station

FIG. 3 illustrates an example block diagram of a base station 102,according to some embodiments. It is noted that the base station of FIG.3 is merely one example of a possible base station. As shown, the basestation 102 may include processor(s) 404 which may execute programinstructions for the base station 102. The processor(s) 404 may also becoupled to memory management unit (MMU) 440, which may be configured toreceive addresses from the processor(s) 404 and translate thoseaddresses to locations in memory (e.g., memory 460 and read only memory(ROM) 450) or to other circuits or devices.

The base station 102 may include at least one network port 470. Thenetwork port 470 may be configured to couple to a telephone network andprovide a plurality of devices, such as UE devices 106, access to thetelephone network as described above in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The network port 470 (or an additional network port) may also oralternatively be configured to couple to a cellular network, e.g., acore network of a cellular service provider. The core network mayprovide mobility related services and/or other services to a pluralityof devices, such as UE devices 106. In some cases, the network port 470may couple to a telephone network via the core network, and/or the corenetwork may provide a telephone network (e.g., among other UE devicesserviced by the cellular service provider).

In some embodiments, base station 102 may be a next generation basestation, e.g., a 5G New Radio (5G NR) base station, or “gNB”. In suchembodiments, base station 102 may be connected to a legacy evolvedpacket core (EPC) network and/or to a NR core (NRC) network. Inaddition, base station 102 may be considered a 5G NR cell and mayinclude one or more transition and reception points (TRPs). In addition,a UE capable of operating according to 5G NR may be connected to one ormore TRPs within one or more gNBs.

The base station 102 may include at least one antenna 434, and possiblymultiple antennas. The at least one antenna 434 may be configured tooperate as a wireless transceiver and may be further configured tocommunicate with UE devices 106 via radio 430. The antenna 434communicates with the radio 430 via communication chain 432.Communication chain 432 may be a receive chain, a transmit chain orboth. The radio 430 may be configured to communicate via variouswireless communication standards, including, but not limited to, 5G NR,LTE, LTE-A, GSM, UMTS, CDMA2000, Wi-Fi, etc.

The base station 102 may be configured to communicate wirelessly usingmultiple wireless communication standards. In some instances, the basestation 102 may include multiple radios, which may enable the basestation 102 to communicate according to multiple wireless communicationtechnologies. For example, as one possibility, the base station 102 mayinclude an LTE radio for performing communication according to LTE aswell as a 5G NR radio for performing communication according to 5G NR.In such a case, the base station 102 may be capable of operating as bothan LTE base station and a 5G NR base station. As another possibility,the base station 102 may include a multi-mode radio which is capable ofperforming communications according to any of multiple wirelesscommunication technologies (e.g., 5G NR and Wi-Fi, LTE and Wi-Fi, LTEand UMTS, LTE and CDMA2000, UMTS and GSM, etc.).

As described further subsequently herein, the BS 102 may includehardware and software components for implementing or supportingimplementation of features described herein. The processor 404 of thebase station 102 may be configured to implement or supportimplementation of part or all of the methods described herein, e.g., byexecuting program instructions stored on a memory medium (e.g., anon-transitory computer-readable memory medium). Alternatively, theprocessor 404 may be configured as a programmable hardware element, suchas an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), or as an ASIC (ApplicationSpecific Integrated Circuit), or a combination thereof. Alternatively(or in addition) the processor 404 of the BS 102, in conjunction withone or more of the other components 430, 432, 434, 440, 450, 460, 470may be configured to implement or support implementation of part or allof the features described herein.

In addition, as described herein, processor(s) 404 may be comprised ofone or more processing elements. In other words, one or more processingelements may be included in processor(s) 404. Thus, processor(s) 404 mayinclude one or more integrated circuits (ICs) that are configured toperform the functions of processor(s) 404. In addition, each integratedcircuit may include circuitry (e.g., first circuitry, second circuitry,etc.) configured to perform the functions of processor(s) 404.

Further, as described herein, radio 430 may be comprised of one or moreprocessing elements. In other words, one or more processing elements maybe included in radio 430. Thus, radio 430 may include one or moreintegrated circuits (ICs) that are configured to perform the functionsof radio 430. In addition, each integrated circuit may include circuitry(e.g., first circuitry, second circuitry, etc.) configured to performthe functions of radio 430.

FIG. 4: Block Diagram of a Server

FIG. 4 illustrates an example block diagram of a server 104, accordingto some embodiments. It is noted that the base station of FIG. 4 ismerely one example of a possible server. As shown, the server 104 mayinclude processor(s) 444 which may execute program instructions for theserver 104. The processor(s) 444 may also be coupled to memorymanagement unit (MMU) 474, which may be configured to receive addressesfrom the processor(s) 444 and translate those addresses to locations inmemory (e.g., memory 464 and read only memory (ROM) 454) or to othercircuits or devices.

The server 104 may be configured to provide a plurality of devices, suchas base station 102, UE devices 106, and/or UTM 108, access to networkfunctions, e.g., as further described herein.

In some embodiments, the server 104 may be part of a radio accessnetwork, such as a 5G New Radio (5G NR) radio access network. In someembodiments, the server 104 may be connected to a legacy evolved packetcore (EPC) network and/or to a NR core (NRC) network.

As described further subsequently herein, the server 104 may includehardware and software components for implementing or supportingimplementation of features described herein. The processor 444 of theserver 104 may be configured to implement or support implementation ofpart or all of the methods described herein, e.g., by executing programinstructions stored on a memory medium (e.g., a non-transitorycomputer-readable memory medium). Alternatively, the processor 444 maybe configured as a programmable hardware element, such as an FPGA (FieldProgrammable Gate Array), or as an ASIC (Application Specific IntegratedCircuit), or a combination thereof. Alternatively (or in addition) theprocessor 444 of the server 104, in conjunction with one or more of theother components 454, 464, and/or 474 may be configured to implement orsupport implementation of part or all of the features described herein.

In addition, as described herein, processor(s) 444 may be comprised ofone or more processing elements. In other words, one or more processingelements may be included in processor(s) 444. Thus, processor(s) 444 mayinclude one or more integrated circuits (ICs) that are configured toperform the functions of processor(s) 444. In addition, each integratedcircuit may include circuitry (e.g., first circuitry, second circuitry,etc.) configured to perform the functions of processor(s) 444.

FIG. 5A: Block Diagram of a UE

FIG. 5A illustrates an example simplified block diagram of acommunication device 106, according to some embodiments. It is notedthat the block diagram of the communication device of FIG. 5A is onlyone example of a possible communication device. According toembodiments, communication device 106 may be a user equipment (UE)device, a mobile device or mobile station, a wireless device or wirelessstation, a desktop computer or computing device, a mobile computingdevice (e.g., a laptop, notebook, or portable computing device), atablet, an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), a UAV controller (UAC) and/ora combination of devices, among other devices. As shown, thecommunication device 106 may include a set of components 300 configuredto perform core functions. For example, this set of components may beimplemented as a system on chip (SOC), which may include portions forvarious purposes. Alternatively, this set of components 300 may beimplemented as separate components or groups of components for thevarious purposes. The set of components 300 may be coupled (e.g.,communicatively; directly or indirectly) to various other circuits ofthe communication device 106.

For example, the communication device 106 may include various types ofmemory (e.g., including NAND flash 310), an input/output interface suchas connector I/F 320 (e.g., for connecting to a computer system; dock;charging station; input devices, such as a microphone, camera, keyboard;output devices, such as speakers; etc.), the display 360, which may beintegrated with or external to the communication device 106, andcellular communication circuitry 330 such as for 5G NR, LTE, GSM, etc.,and short to medium range wireless communication circuitry 329 (e.g.,Bluetooth™ and WLAN circuitry). In some embodiments, communicationdevice 106 may include wired communication circuitry (not shown), suchas a network interface card, e.g., for Ethernet.

The cellular communication circuitry 330 may couple (e.g.,communicatively; directly or indirectly) to one or more antennas, suchas antennas 335 and 336 as shown. The short to medium range wirelesscommunication circuitry 329 may also couple (e.g., communicatively;directly or indirectly) to one or more antennas, such as antennas 337and 338 as shown. Alternatively, the short to medium range wirelesscommunication circuitry 329 may couple (e.g., communicatively; directlyor indirectly) to the antennas 335 and 336 in addition to, or insteadof, coupling (e.g., communicatively; directly or indirectly) to theantennas 337 and 338. The short to medium range wireless communicationcircuitry 329 and/or cellular communication circuitry 330 may includemultiple receive chains and/or multiple transmit chains for receivingand/or transmitting multiple spatial streams, such as in amultiple-input multiple output (MIMO) configuration.

In some embodiments, as further described below, cellular communicationcircuitry 330 may include dedicated receive chains (including and/orcoupled to, e.g., communicatively; directly or indirectly. dedicatedprocessors and/or radios) for multiple RATs (e.g., a first receive chainfor LTE and a second receive chain for 5G NR). In addition, in someembodiments, cellular communication circuitry 330 may include a singletransmit chain that may be switched between radios dedicated to specificRATs. For example, a first radio may be dedicated to a first RAT, e.g.,LTE, and may be in communication with a dedicated receive chain and atransmit chain shared with an additional radio, e.g., a second radiothat may be dedicated to a second RAT, e.g., 5G NR, and may be incommunication with a dedicated receive chain and the shared transmitchain.

The communication device 106 may also include and/or be configured foruse with one or more user interface elements. The user interfaceelements may include any of various elements, such as display 360 (whichmay be a touchscreen display), a keyboard (which may be a discretekeyboard or may be implemented as part of a touchscreen display), amouse, a microphone and/or speakers, one or more cameras, one or morebuttons, and/or any of various other elements capable of providinginformation to a user and/or receiving or interpreting user input.

The communication device 106 may further include one or more smart cards345 that include SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) functionality, such asone or more UICC(s) (Universal Integrated Circuit Card(s)) cards 345.Note that the term “SIM” or “SIM entity” is intended to include any ofvarious types of SIM implementations or SIM functionality, such as theone or more UICC(s) cards 345, one or more eUICCs, one or more eSIMs,either removable or embedded, etc. In some embodiments, the UE 106 mayinclude at least two SIMs. Each SIM may execute one or more SIMapplications and/or otherwise implement SIM functionality. Thus, eachSIM may be a single smart card that may be embedded, e.g., may besoldered onto a circuit board in the UE 106, or each SIM 310 may beimplemented as a removable smart card. Thus the SIM(s) may be one ormore removable smart cards (such as UICC cards, which are sometimesreferred to as “SIM cards”), and/or the SIMs 310 may be one or moreembedded cards (such as embedded UICCs (eUICCs), which are sometimesreferred to as “eSIMs” or “eSIM cards”). In some embodiments (such aswhen the SIM(s) include an eUICC), one or more of the SIM(s) mayimplement embedded SIM (eSIM) functionality; in such an embodiment, asingle one of the SIM(s) may execute multiple SIM applications. Each ofthe SIMs may include components such as a processor and/or a memory;instructions for performing SIM/eSIM functionality may be stored in thememory and executed by the processor. In some embodiments, the UE 106may include a combination of removable smart cards andfixed/non-removable smart cards (such as one or more eUICC cards thatimplement eSIM functionality), as desired. For example, the UE 106 maycomprise two embedded SIMs, two removable SIMs, or a combination of oneembedded SIMs and one removable SIMs. Various other SIM configurationsare also contemplated.

As noted above, in some embodiments, the UE 106 may include two or moreSIMs. The inclusion of two or more SIMs in the UE 106 may allow the UE106 to support two different telephone numbers and may allow the UE 106to communicate on corresponding two or more respective networks. Forexample, a first SIM may support a first RAT such as LTE, and a secondSIM 310 support a second RAT such as 5G NR. Other implementations andRATs are of course possible. In some embodiments, when the UE 106comprises two SIMs, the UE 106 may support Dual SIM Dual Active (DSDA)functionality. The DSDA functionality may allow the UE 106 to besimultaneously connected to two networks (and use two different RATs) atthe same time, or to simultaneously maintain two connections supportedby two different SIMs using the same or different RATs on the same ordifferent networks. The DSDA functionality may also allow the UE 106 tosimultaneously receive voice calls or data traffic on either phonenumber. In certain embodiments the voice call may be a packet switchedcommunication. In other words, the voice call may be received usingvoice over LTE (VoLTE) technology and/or voice over NR (VoNR)technology. In some embodiments, the UE 106 may support Dual SIM DualStandby (DSDS) functionality. The DSDS functionality may allow either ofthe two SIMs in the UE 106 to be on standby waiting for a voice calland/or data connection. In DSDS, when a call/data is established on oneSIM, the other SIM is no longer active. In some embodiments, DSDxfunctionality (either DSDA or DSDS functionality) may be implementedwith a single SIM (e.g., a eUICC) that executes multiple SIMapplications for different carriers and/or RATs.

As shown, the SOC 300 may include processor(s) 302, which may executeprogram instructions for the communication device 106 and displaycircuitry 304, which may perform graphics processing and provide displaysignals to the display 360. The processor(s) 302 may also be coupled tomemory management unit (MMU) 340, which may be configured to receiveaddresses from the processor(s) 302 and translate those addresses tolocations in memory (e.g., memory 306, read only memory (ROM) 350, NANDflash memory 310) and/or to other circuits or devices, such as thedisplay circuitry 304, short to medium range wireless communicationcircuitry 329, cellular communication circuitry 330, connector I/F 320,and/or display 360. The MMU 340 may be configured to perform memoryprotection and page table translation or set up. In some embodiments,the MMU 340 may be included as a portion of the processor(s) 302.

As noted above, the communication device 106 may be configured tocommunicate using wireless and/or wired communication circuitry. Thecommunication device 106 may be configured to perform methods forchannel access scheme enhancements for systems operating in higherfrequency unlicensed frequency bands as further described herein.

As described herein, the communication device 106 may include hardwareand software components for implementing the above features for acommunication device 106 to communicate a scheduling profile for powersavings to a network. The processor 302 of the communication device 106may be configured to implement part or all of the features describedherein, e.g., by executing program instructions stored on a memorymedium (e.g., a non-transitory computer-readable memory medium).Alternatively (or in addition), processor 302 may be configured as aprogrammable hardware element, such as an FPGA (Field Programmable GateArray), or as an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit).Alternatively (or in addition) the processor 302 of the communicationdevice 106, in conjunction with one or more of the other components 300,304, 306, 310, 320, 329, 330, 340, 345, 350, 360 may be configured toimplement part or all of the features described herein.

In addition, as described herein, processor 302 may include one or moreprocessing elements. Thus, processor 302 may include one or moreintegrated circuits (ICs) that are configured to perform the functionsof processor 302. In addition, each integrated circuit may includecircuitry (e.g., first circuitry, second circuitry, etc.) configured toperform the functions of processor(s) 302.

Further, as described herein, cellular communication circuitry 330 andshort to medium range wireless communication circuitry 329 may eachinclude one or more processing elements. In other words, one or moreprocessing elements may be included in cellular communication circuitry330 and, similarly, one or more processing elements may be included inshort to medium range wireless communication circuitry 329. Thus,cellular communication circuitry 330 may include one or more integratedcircuits (ICs) that are configured to perform the functions of cellularcommunication circuitry 330. In addition, each integrated circuit mayinclude circuitry (e.g., first circuitry, second circuitry, etc.)configured to perform the functions of cellular communication circuitry330. Similarly, the short to medium range wireless communicationcircuitry 329 may include one or more ICs that are configured to performthe functions of short to medium range wireless communication circuitry329. In addition, each integrated circuit may include circuitry (e.g.,first circuitry, second circuitry, etc.) configured to perform thefunctions of short to medium range wireless communication circuitry 329.

FIG. 5B: Block Diagram of Cellular Communication Circuitry

FIG. 5B illustrates an example simplified block diagram of cellularcommunication circuitry, according to some embodiments. It is noted thatthe block diagram of the cellular communication circuitry of FIG. 5B isonly one example of a possible cellular communication circuit. Accordingto embodiments, cellular communication circuitry 330 may be included ina communication device, such as communication device 106 describedabove. As noted above, communication device 106 may be a user equipment(UE) device, a mobile device or mobile station, a wireless device orwireless station, a desktop computer or computing device, a mobilecomputing device (e.g., a laptop, notebook, or portable computingdevice), a tablet and/or a combination of devices, among other devices.

The cellular communication circuitry 330 may couple (e.g.,communicatively; directly or indirectly) to one or more antennas, suchas antennas 335 a-b and 336 as shown (in FIG. 3). In some embodiments,cellular communication circuitry 330 may include dedicated receivechains (including and/or coupled to, e.g., communicatively; directly orindirectly. dedicated processors and/or radios) for multiple RATs (e.g.,a first receive chain for LTE and a second receive chain for 5G NR). Forexample, as shown in FIG. 5, cellular communication circuitry 330 mayinclude a modem 510 and a modem 520. Modem 510 may be configured forcommunications according to a first RAT, e.g., such as LTE or LTE-A, andmodem 520 may be configured for communications according to a secondRAT, e.g., such as 5G NR.

As shown, modem 510 may include one or more processors 512 and a memory516 in communication with processors 512. Modem 510 may be incommunication with a radio frequency (RF) front end 530. RF front end530 may include circuitry for transmitting and receiving radio signals.For example, RF front end 530 may include receive circuitry (RX) 532 andtransmit circuitry (TX) 534. In some embodiments, receive circuitry 532may be in communication with downlink (DL) front end 550, which mayinclude circuitry for receiving radio signals via antenna 335 a.

Similarly, modem 520 may include one or more processors 522 and a memory526 in communication with processors 522. Modem 520 may be incommunication with an RF front end 540. RF front end 540 may includecircuitry for transmitting and receiving radio signals. For example, RFfront end 540 may include receive circuitry 542 and transmit circuitry544. In some embodiments, receive circuitry 542 may be in communicationwith DL front end 560, which may include circuitry for receiving radiosignals via antenna 335 b.

In some embodiments, a switch 570 may couple transmit circuitry 534 touplink (UL) front end 572. In addition, switch 570 may couple transmitcircuitry 544 to UL front end 572. UL front end 572 may includecircuitry for transmitting radio signals via antenna 336. Thus, whencellular communication circuitry 330 receives instructions to transmitaccording to the first RAT (e.g., as supported via modem 510), switch570 may be switched to a first state that allows modem 510 to transmitsignals according to the first RAT (e.g., via a transmit chain thatincludes transmit circuitry 534 and UL front end 572). Similarly, whencellular communication circuitry 330 receives instructions to transmitaccording to the second RAT (e.g., as supported via modem 520), switch570 may be switched to a second state that allows modem 520 to transmitsignals according to the second RAT (e.g., via a transmit chain thatincludes transmit circuitry 544 and UL front end 572).

In some embodiments, the cellular communication circuitry 330 may beconfigured to perform methods channel access scheme enhancements forsystems operating in higher frequency unlicensed frequency bands asfurther described herein.

As described herein, the modem 510 may include hardware and softwarecomponents for implementing the above features or for time divisionmultiplexing UL data for NSA NR operations, as well as the various othertechniques described herein. The processors 512 may be configured toimplement part or all of the features described herein, e.g., byexecuting program instructions stored on a memory medium (e.g., anon-transitory computer-readable memory medium). Alternatively (or inaddition), processor 512 may be configured as a programmable hardwareelement, such as an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), or as an ASIC(Application Specific Integrated Circuit). Alternatively (or inaddition) the processor 512, in conjunction with one or more of theother components 530, 532, 534, 550, 570, 572, 335 and 336 may beconfigured to implement part or all of the features described herein.

In addition, as described herein, processors 512 may include one or moreprocessing elements. Thus, processors 512 may include one or moreintegrated circuits (ICs) that are configured to perform the functionsof processors 512. In addition, each integrated circuit may includecircuitry (e.g., first circuitry, second circuitry, etc.) configured toperform the functions of processors 512.

As described herein, the modem 520 may include hardware and softwarecomponents for implementing the above features for communicating ascheduling profile for power savings to a network, as well as thevarious other techniques described herein. The processors 522 may beconfigured to implement part or all of the features described herein,e.g., by executing program instructions stored on a memory medium (e.g.,a non-transitory computer-readable memory medium). Alternatively (or inaddition), processor 522 may be configured as a programmable hardwareelement, such as an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), or as an ASIC(Application Specific Integrated Circuit). Alternatively (or inaddition) the processor 522, in conjunction with one or more of theother components 540, 542, 544, 550, 570, 572, 335 and 336 may beconfigured to implement part or all of the features described herein.

In addition, as described herein, processors 522 may include one or moreprocessing elements. Thus, processors 522 may include one or moreintegrated circuits (ICs) that are configured to perform the functionsof processors 522. In addition, each integrated circuit may includecircuitry (e.g., first circuitry, second circuitry, etc.) configured toperform the functions of processors 522.

FIGS. 6A and 6B: 5G NR Architecture with LTE

In some implementations, fifth generation (5G) wireless communicationwill initially be deployed concurrently with current wirelesscommunication standards (e.g., LTE). For example, dual connectivitybetween LTE and 5G new radio (5G NR or NR) has been specified as part ofthe initial deployment of NR. Thus, as illustrated in FIGS. 6A-B,evolved packet core (EPC) network 600 may continue to communicate withcurrent LTE base stations (e.g., eNB 602). In addition, eNB 602 may bein communication with a 5G NR base station (e.g., gNB 604) and may passdata between the EPC network 600 and gNB 604. Thus, EPC network 600 maybe used (or reused) and gNB 604 may serve as extra capacity for UEs,e.g., for providing increased downlink throughput to UEs. In otherwords, LTE may be used for control plane signaling and NR may be usedfor user plane signaling. Thus, LTE may be used to establish connectionsto the network and NR may be used for data services.

FIG. 6B illustrates a proposed protocol stack for eNB 602 and gNB 604.As shown, eNB 602 may include a medium access control (MAC) layer 632that interfaces with radio link control (RLC) layers 622 a-b. RLC layer622 a may also interface with packet data convergence protocol (PDCP)layer 612 a and RLC layer 622 b may interface with PDCP layer 612 b.Similar to dual connectivity as specified in LTE-Advanced Release 12,PDCP layer 612 a may interface via a master cell group (MCG) bearer withEPC network 600 whereas PDCP layer 612 b may interface via a splitbearer with EPC network 600.

Additionally, as shown, gNB 604 may include a MAC layer 634 thatinterfaces with RLC layers 624 a-b. RLC layer 624 a may interface withPDCP layer 612 b of eNB 602 via an X₂ interface for information exchangeand/or coordination (e.g., scheduling of a UE) between eNB 602 and gNB604. In addition, RLC layer 624 b may interface with PDCP layer 614.Similar to dual connectivity as specified in LTE-Advanced Release 12,PDCP layer 614 may interface with EPC network 600 via a secondary cellgroup (SCG) bearer. Thus, eNB 602 may be considered a master node (MeNB)while gNB 604 may be considered a secondary node (SgNB). In somescenarios, a UE may be required to maintain a connection to both an MeNBand a SgNB. In such scenarios, the MeNB may be used to maintain a radioresource control (RRC) connection to an EPC while the SgNB may be usedfor capacity (e.g., additional downlink and/or uplink throughput).

FIGS. 7A, 7B and 8: 5G Core Network Architecture—Interworking with Wi-Fi

In some embodiments, the 5G core network (CN) may be accessed via (orthrough) a cellular connection/interface (e.g., via a 3GPP communicationarchitecture/protocol) and a non-cellular connection/interface (e.g., anon-3GPP access architecture/protocol such as Wi-Fi connection). FIG. 7Aillustrates an example of a 5G network architecture that incorporatesboth 3GPP (e.g., cellular) and non-3GPP (e.g., non-cellular) access tothe 5G CN, according to some embodiments. As shown, a user equipmentdevice (e.g., such as UE 106) may access the 5G CN through both a radioaccess network (RAN, e.g., such as gNB or base station 604) and anaccess point, such as AP 112. The AP 112 may include a connection to theInternet 700 as well as a connection to a non-3GPP inter-workingfunction (N3IWF) 702 network entity. The N3IWF may include a connectionto a core access and mobility management function (AMF) 704 of the 5GCN. The AMF 704 may include an instance of a 5G mobility management (5GMM) function associated with the UE 106. In addition, the RAN (e.g., gNB604) may also have a connection to the AMF 704. Thus, the 5G CN maysupport unified authentication over both connections as well as allowsimultaneous registration for UE 106 access via both gNB 604 and AP 112.As shown, the AMF 704 may include one or more functional entitiesassociated with the 5G CN (e.g., network slice selection function (NSSF)720, short message service function (SMSF) 722, application function(AF) 724, unified data management (UDM) 726, policy control function(PCF) 728, and/or authentication server function (AUSF) 730). Note thatthese functional entities may also be supported by a session managementfunction (SMF) 706 a and an SMF 706 b of the 5G CN. The AMF 706 may beconnected to (or in communication with) the SMF 706 a. Further, the gNB604 may in communication with (or connected to) a user plane function(UPF) 708 a that may also be communication with the SMF 706 a.Similarly, the N3IWF 702 may be communicating with a UPF 708 b that mayalso be communicating with the SMF 706 b. Both UPFs may be communicatingwith the data network (e.g., DN 710 a and 710 b) and/or the Internet 700and Internet Protocol (IP) Multimedia Subsystem/IP Multimedia CoreNetwork Subsystem (IMS) core network 710.

FIG. 7B illustrates an example of a 5G network architecture thatincorporates both dual 3GPP (e.g., LTE and 5G NR) access and non-3GPPaccess to the 5G CN, according to some embodiments. As shown, a userequipment device (e.g., such as UE 106) may access the 5G CN throughboth a radio access network (RAN, e.g., such as gNB or base station 604or eNB or base station 602) and an access point, such as AP 112. The AP112 may include a connection to the Internet 700 as well as a connectionto the N3IWF 702 network entity. The N3IWF may include a connection tothe AMF 704 of the 5G CN. The AMF 704 may include an instance of the 5GMM function associated with the UE 106. In addition, the RAN (e.g., gNB604) may also have a connection to the AMF 704. Thus, the 5G CN maysupport unified authentication over both connections as well as allowsimultaneous registration for UE 106 access via both gNB 604 and AP 112.In addition, the 5G CN may support dual-registration of the UE on both alegacy network (e.g., LTE via base station 602) and a 5G network (e.g.,via base station 604). As shown, the base station 602 may haveconnections to a mobility management entity (MME) 742 and a servinggateway (SGW) 744. The MME 742 may have connections to both the SGW 744and the AMF 704. In addition, the SGW 744 may have connections to boththe SMF 706 a and the UPF 708 a. As shown, the AMF 704 may include oneor more functional entities associated with the 5G CN (e.g., NSSF 720,SMSF 722, AF 724, UDM 726, PCF 728, and/or AUSF 730). Note that UDM 726may also include a home subscriber server (HSS) function and the PCF mayalso include a policy and charging rules function (PCRF). Note furtherthat these functional entities may also be supported by the SMF706 a andthe SMF 706 b of the 5G CN. The AMF 706 may be connected to (or incommunication with) the SMF 706 a. Further, the gNB 604 may incommunication with (or connected to) the UPF 708 a that may also becommunication with the SMF 706 a. Similarly, the N3IWF 702 may becommunicating with a UPF 708 b that may also be communicating with theSMF 706 b. Both UPFs may be communicating with the data network (e.g.,DN 710 a and 710 b) and/or the Internet 700 and IMS core network 710.

Note that in various embodiments, one or more of the above describednetwork entities may be configured to perform methods to improvesecurity checks in a 5G NR network, including mechanisms channel accessscheme enhancements for systems operating in higher frequency unlicensedfrequency bands, e.g., as further described herein.

FIG. 8 illustrates an example of a baseband processor architecture for aUE (e.g., such as UE 106), according to some embodiments. The basebandprocessor architecture 800 described in FIG. 8 may be implemented on oneor more radios (e.g., radios 329 and/or 330 described above) or modems(e.g., modems 510 and/or 520) as described above. As shown, thenon-access stratum (NAS) 810 may include a 5G NAS 820 and a legacy NAS850. The legacy NAS 850 may include a communication connection with alegacy access stratum (AS) 870. The 5G NAS 820 may include communicationconnections with both a 5G AS 840 and a non-3GPP AS 830 and Wi-Fi AS832. The 5G NAS 820 may include functional entities associated with bothaccess stratums. Thus, the 5G NAS 820 may include multiple 5G MMentities 826 and 828 and 5G session management (SM) entities 822 and824. The legacy NAS 850 may include functional entities such as shortmessage service (SMS) entity 852, evolved packet system (EPS) sessionmanagement (ESM) entity 854, session management (SM) entity 856, EPSmobility management (EMM) entity 858, and mobility management (MM)/GPRSmobility management (GMM) entity 860. In addition, the legacy AS 870 mayinclude functional entities such as LTE AS 872, UMTS AS 874, and/orGSM/GPRS AS 876.

Thus, the baseband processor architecture 800 allows for a common 5G-NASfor both 5G cellular and non-cellular (e.g., non-3GPP access). Note thatas shown, the 5G MM may maintain individual connection management andregistration management state machines for each connection.Additionally, a device (e.g., UE 106) may register to a single PLMN(e.g., 5G CN) using 5G cellular access as well as non-cellular access.Further, it may be possible for the device to be in a connected state inone access and an idle state in another access and vice versa. Finally,there may be common 5G-MM procedures (e.g., registration,de-registration, identification, authentication, as so forth) for bothaccesses.

Note that in various embodiments, one or more of the above describedfunctional entities of the 5G NAS and/or 5G AS may be configured toperform methods channel access scheme enhancements for systems operatingin higher frequency unlicensed frequency bands, e.g., as furtherdescribed herein.

Channel Access Scheme Enhancements

In current implementations, various listen before talk (LBT)technologies/architectures have been specified in WiFi,Licensed-Assisted Access (LAA), enhanced LAA (eLAA), and 5G NR inunlicensed spectrum (NR-U). Most of these schemes have been deployed atlower frequency bands (e.g., less than 6 GHz). However, for higherfrequency bands/systems, e.g., systems operating beyond 52.6 GHz, highlydirection transmissions are required in order to mitigate substantialpathloss inherent at these higher frequencies. Additionally, with highlydirectional transmission, e.g. from a base station to a wireless device,inter-cell interference, as well as inter-RAT interference, tends to beall reduced. Thus, LBT technologies/architectures may not be necessaryfor those cases, as channel access may not be an issue, at least ininitial deployments. However, as a number of devices in proximityincreases, e.g., from different operators, depending on traffic patternsand number of wireless devices, channel access may become an issue, evenwith highly directional transmissions.

For example, simulations, such as the simulation exemplified by FIG. 9,have shown that as offered load per link increases, an LBT procedure maybecome beneficial at higher frequency bands. As shown, when a systemload is light, e.g., less than 300 megabytes per second (Mbps), LBT maybe harmful to user-perceived throughput (UPT). In other words, atlighter system loads, LBT creates a lose-lose situation in which neitherthe network nor user benefit from LBT coordination as the LTBcoordination overhead consumes too much resource. However, when thesystem load increases (or is heavy), e.g., greater than 300 Mbps, thereappears to be some benefit from LBT coordination, as shown. Note thatsimulations appear to be radio access technology (RAT) agnostic, e.g.,the conclusions hold across multiple RATs.

Embodiment described herein provide systems, methods, and mechanisms fora transmitting device (e.g., a base station, such as base station 102, aUE, such as UE 106, and/or an access point, such as AP 112) to performchannel access detection measurements and determine a channel accessscheme based on the channel access detection measurements. In someembodiments, a channel access scheme may include a set of channel accessprocedures. In some embodiments, the set of channel access proceduresmay define physical channels and signals to utilize respective channelprocedures within the channel access scheme. In some embodiments,channel access detection may include energy detection and/or preambledetection. In some embodiments, a channel access detection (CAD) metricmay be defined based, at least in part, on one or more CAD measurements.For example, a transmitting device may perform energy detection at afirst periodicity (e.g., every 5 milliseconds, every 10 milliseconds,every 20 milliseconds, every 30 milliseconds, every 40 milliseconds,every 50 milliseconds and so forth) and/or frequency (e.g., 200 hertz(Hz), 100 Hz, 50 Hz, 33 Hz, 25 Hz, 20 Hz and so forth). Additionally,the transmitting device may perform averaging of energy detections at asecond periodicity (e.g., every 25 milliseconds, every 50 milliseconds,every 100 milliseconds, every 150 milliseconds, every 200 milliseconds,every 250 milliseconds and so forth) and/or second frequency (e.g., 40Hz, 20 Hz, 6.7 Hz, 5 Hz, 4 Hz and so forth).

In some embodiments, an interval between CAD measurements (e.g., thefirst periodicity) may be configured by a base station and/or anoperations, administration, and maintenance (OAM) function of a network.In some embodiments, the interval between CAD measurements may bedefined by regulation, e.g., by the Federal Communication Commission(FCC) or similar jurisdictional regulatory bodies, and/or one or morestandards, e.g., such as standards promulgated by 3GPP and/or IEEE,among other standards bodies. In some embodiments, the interval may berelated to and/or based, at least in part, on traffic characteristics ofthe transmitting device. For example, a transmitting device downloadingand/or uploading at a higher data rate, e.g., more than 500 megabytesper second (Mbps) over a specified time period, may perform CADmeasurements more frequently (e.g., at a lower periodicity and/or at ahigher frequency) as compared to a transmitting device downloadingand/or uploading at a lower data rate, e.g., such as below 100 Mbps,over the specified time period. In some embodiments, the specified timeperiod may be 30 seconds, 60 seconds, 90 seconds, and so forth and maybe dependent on a current data rate. For example, at higher data rates,the specified time period may be lower (or shorter) as compared to thespecified time period at lower data rates.

In some embodiments, the interval between CAD measurements and/or CADmetrics may have a forgetting factor and/or expiration factor. In otherwords, CAD measurements/metrics may be considered valid for a period oftime (e.g., expiration factor) after which the CAD measurements/metricsare no longer considered valid. In some embodiments, the forgettingfactor may use digital signal processing to accumulate CAD measurementsto continuously update a CAD metric. In other words, the forgettingfactor may be used to “drop” one or more “old” measurements whendetermining a CAD metric. In some embodiments, a forgetting factorand/or expiration factor may be configured by a base station and/or anoperations, administration, and maintenance (OAM) function of a network.In some embodiments, the forgetting and/or expiration factor may bedefined by regulation, e.g., by the Federal Communication Commission(FCC) or similar jurisdictional regulatory bodies, and/or one or morestandards, e.g., such as standards promulgated by 3GPP and/or IEEE,among other standards bodies. In some embodiments, the forgetting and/orexpiration factor may be related to and/or based, at least in part, ontraffic characteristics of the transmitting device.

In some embodiments, a CAD metric may be compared to a threshold. Insome embodiments, the threshold may be configured by a base stationand/or an operations, administration, and maintenance (OAM) function ofa network. In some embodiments, the threshold may be defined byregulation, e.g., by the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) orsimilar jurisdictional regulatory bodies, and/or one or more standards,e.g., such as standards promulgated by 3GPP and/or IEEE, among otherstandards bodies. In some embodiments, the threshold may be related toand/or based, at least in part, on traffic characteristics of thetransmitting device. In some embodiments, the CAD metric and/orthreshold may be based, at least in part, on local jurisdictionalrequirements associated with channel access. In some embodiments, ifand/or when the CAD metric is below threshold, the transmitting devicemay access a channel without using an LBT scheme, e.g., at least untilanother CAD metric is available (e.g., calculated). In some embodiments,if and/or when the CAD metric is above the threshold, the transmittingdevice may access the channel using the LBT scheme, e.g., at least untilanother CAD metric is available (e.g., calculated).

For example, FIG. 10 illustrates an example of a procedure fordetermining a channel access scheme based on a CAD metric, according tosome embodiments. As shown, a wireless device (e.g., a transmittingdevice, such as UE 106, base station 102, and/or access point 112) mayperform multiple CAD measurements 1010 a-d at CAD measurementopportunities. In some embodiments, the CAD measurement opportunitiesmay occur at a first periodicity and/or frequency, e.g., as describedabove. After performing the CAD measurements 1010 a-d, the wirelessdevice may perform CAD averaging 1012 based of CAD measurements 1010 a-dto determine and/or calculate a CAD metric. The wireless device may thencompare the CAD metric to a CAD threshold. As shown, in someembodiments, the CAD threshold may delineate a CAD metric power abovewhich an LBT procedure 1014 may be required when accessing a channel andbelow which no LTB procedure 1016 may be required when accessing thechannel. In some embodiments, the channel may be in an unlicensedspectrum of the frequency spectrum. In some embodiments, the channel maybe in a higher frequency band of the frequency spectrum, e.g., in a bandoperating at greater than 52.6 GHz. In some embodiments, the higherfrequency band may be in the unlicensed spectrum.

As another example, FIG. 11 illustrates another example of a procedurefor determining a channel access scheme based on a CAD metric, accordingto some embodiments. As shown, a wireless device (e.g., a transmittingdevice, such as UE 106, base station 102, and/or access point 112) mayperform multiple CAD measurements 1110 a-d at CAD measurementopportunities. In some embodiments, the CAD measurement opportunitiesmay occur at a first periodicity and/or frequency, e.g., as describedabove. After performing the CAD measurements 1110 a-d, the wirelessdevice may perform CAD averaging 1112 based of CAD measurements 1110 a-dto determine and/or calculate a CAD metric. The wireless device may thencompare the CAD metric to a CAD threshold. As shown, in someembodiments, the CAD threshold may delineate a CAD metric power abovewhich a channel access scheme 1114 may be used when accessing a channeland below which a channel access scheme 1116 may be used when accessingthe channel. In some embodiments, channel access schemes 1114 and 1116may be associated with a particular LBT procedure (e.g., category 2, 3,and/or 4) and/or with a channel access scheme that does not require anLBT procedure. In some embodiments, the channel may be in an unlicensedspectrum of the frequency spectrum. In some embodiments, the channel maybe in a higher frequency band of the frequency spectrum, e.g., in a bandoperating at greater than 52.6 GHz. In some embodiments, the higherfrequency band may be in the unlicensed spectrum.

In some embodiments, more than one threshold may be used. For example,when multiple thresholds are used, each threshold may define a range ofCAD metric associated with a particular access scheme, e.g., such as noLBT for channel access, category 2 LBT for channel access, category 3LBT for channel access, category 4 LBT for channel access, and so forth.In some embodiments, further thresholds may be defined within aparticular access scheme, e.g., within category 4 LBT for channelaccess, to further define LBT parameters for channel access.

For example, FIG. 12 illustrates an example of determining a channelaccess scheme based on multiple thresholds, according to someembodiments. As shown, one or more thresholds 1202 a-n may delineate oneor more CAD metric power ranges corresponding to one or more channelaccess schemes 1204 a-n. Note that each channel access scheme 1204 a-nmay include a set of channel access procedures. In some embodiments, theset of channel access procedures may define physical channels andsignals to utilize respective channel procedures within a channel accessscheme. For example, channel access scheme 1204 n may correspond to alowest CAD metric power range and thus, may include a set of channelaccess procedures that includes accessing a channel without a listenbefore talk procedure. Alternatively, in some embodiments, channelaccess scheme 1204 n may correspond to a lowest CAD metric power rangeand thus, may include a set of channel access procedures that includesaccessing a channel with a least restrictive listen before talkprocedure. As another example, channel access scheme 1204 a maycorrespond to a highest CAD metric power range and thus, may include aset of channel access procedures that includes accessing a channel witha most restrictive listen before talk procedure. In some embodiments,increasing CAD metric power ranges may correspond to increasinglyrestrictive channel access schemes whereas decreasing CAD metric powerranges may correspond to increasingly less restrictive channel accessschemes. For example, in some embodiments, a listen before talk channelaccess procedure may be considered more restrictive than a non-listenbefore talk channel access procedure. As another example, amongnon-listen before talk channel access procedures, an energy detectionthreshold to determine whether a channel is clear or not may correlateto restrictiveness, e.g., a higher energy detection threshold may beconsidered less restrictive than a lower energy detection threshold. Inother words, as an energy detection threshold increases to determinewhether a channel is clear or not, a level of restrictiveness to accessthe channel decreases. As an additional example, a category 4 listenbefore talk procedure may be considered more restrictive than a category2 listen before talk procedure. Further, among category 4 listen beforetalk procedures, a contention window size may correlate torestrictiveness, e.g., a longer duration contention window may beconsidered more restrictive than a shorter duration contention window.In other words, as a size of a contention window increases (e.g., as aduration of the contention window increases), a level of restrictivenessto access the channel increases. Note that a least restrictive channelaccess scheme may or may not include a listen before talk procedure.

In some embodiments, CAD measurements may be energy based, such asreference signal received power (RSRP) based. In some embodiments, CADmeasurements may be a combination of energy based and reference signalbased. In some embodiments, CAD measurements may mix energy based andreference signal-based measurements. In some embodiments, a portion ofsymbols in a frame may be measured. In some embodiments, measurementwindow size may be configurable (e.g., by a base station and/or OAM) andmay depend on traffic types, device capability, and so forth.

In some embodiments, CAD metric measurements may be performed when abase station is not transmitting. In other words, to ensure the CADmetric is meaningful, detection may be conducted during a period of timewhen the base station is not transmitting. For example, CAD measurementsmay be performed over periodic/semi-persistent channel state information(CSI) resource for interference measurement (CSI-IM), e.g., zero powerinterference measurement resources (zero power IMR). In someembodiments, a measurement resource for a CAD measurement may be definedas “non-skippable”, e.g., a UE, such as UE 106, may perform CADmeasurements over the measurement resource even if the measurementresource is indicated as “flexible” by a dynamic slot format indicator(SFI). Thus, if a configured periodic/semi-persistent CSI-IM happens tobe located over flexible symbols according to semi-static signaling andthe UE is configured to receive dynamic SFI and if the CSI-IM presentsymbol(s) is not indicated as downlink (DL) by a dynamic SFI, then theUE may not skip the measurement resource(s). Such a scheme may alsoavoid having to indicate the measurement resource as “DL” by a dynamicSFI, in which case a UE performing CAD metric measurement can functionproperly, however, other UEs may perform DL reception on the resourcethe base station is not actually transmitting on.

In some embodiments, four symbol types may be supported in radioresource control (RRC) signaling (e.g., cell specific and/or UEspecific) for semi-static and dynamic SFI. In such embodiments, the foursymbol types may include “DL”, “UL”, “flexible” and/or “CAD”. Further,in some embodiments, the UE may perform CAD measurements over symbolsindicated as “CAD” symbols in either a semi-static or dynamic SFI.

For channel access, energy detection can be required over a nominalbandwidth. In that case, to accumulate a more reliable estimate, it maybe possible to configure sparse resources in the time domain, e.g. oneOFDM symbol for every 10 milliseconds.

In some embodiments, a CAD measurement may be performed over a cyclicprefix of an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbol.For example, some OFDM symbols' cyclic prefix may be much larger thanothers. In such instances, if/when a base station and/or UE does nottransmit over part of a longer cyclic prefix, CAD measurements may beperformed over that part of the longer cyclic prefix. In someembodiments, usage of an extended cyclic prefix may be in addition tousing normal or standard cyclic prefix for 960 kilohertz (KHz) and/or480 KHz.

For example, FIG. 13 illustrates an example of performing a CADmeasurement during a long cyclic prefix, according to some embodiments.As shown, a long cyclic prefix 1310 may precede a regular cyclic prefix1312, which may be followed by a symbol 1314, which may be an OFDMsymbol, at least in some embodiments. Symbol 1314 may be followed byanother regular cyclic prefix 1312 and another symbol 1316. In someembodiments, a wireless device, e.g., such as a UE 106, base station102, pico cell 102, access point 112, and so forth, may perform a CADmeasurement during the long cyclic prefix.

In some embodiments, when a device, e.g., such as a UE, base station,pico cell, access point, and so forth, powers on (e.g., transitioningfrom a no power to power mode, transitioning from an inactive mode to anactive mode, transitioning from dormancy/DRX off to DRX on, and soforth), the device may perform CAD measurements more frequently thannormal operations, e.g., X times over Y microseconds. In someembodiments, normal operations may include averaging CAD measurements(e.g., to generate a CAD metric) over 50 or 100 milliseconds, thus, morefrequent CAD measurements may counteract latency in transmission/channelactivity caused by such a power on operation. In some embodiments, morefrequent CAD measurements may satisfy a regulatory requirement for CADmetric generation.

In some embodiments, for beam-based systems, a wireless device (e.g.,such as a UE 106 and/or base station 102), may use one or more CADmetrics based on one or more beams the transmitting device may be usingfor transmitting and/or receiving. In some embodiments, the wirelessdevice may use a single representative CAD metric to decide and/ordetermine a channel access scheme for a transmission and/or set oftransmissions. In some embodiments, the wireless device may use and/orallow different channel access schemes for each beam based on a CADmetric for each beam. In some embodiments, the wireless device may useone channel access scheme for a set of simultaneous beams used based, atleast in part, on a representative CAD metric from all CAD metrics ofthe simultaneous beams. In some embodiments, the representative CADmetric may be a most restrictive CAD metric, a CAD metric for aconfigured beam, a CAD metric for a signaled beam, and/or a CAD metricfrom a randomly chosen beam of the set of simultaneous beams.

In some embodiments, for highly directional systems in which atransmitting wireless device and a receiving wireless device areexperiencing different interference profiles, a CAD metric may bedefined for each of the transmitter(s)/receiver(s). For example,wireless devices may use one channel access scheme for any set ofsimultaneous beams used at both wireless devices (e.g., the transmittingwireless device and the receiving wireless device), based, at least inpart, on a representative CAD metric from all CAD metrics of thesimultaneous beams. In some embodiments, the representative CAD metricmay be a most restrictive CAD metric, a configured CAD metric, asignaled CAD metric, and/or a CAD metric from a randomly chosen beam ofthe set of simultaneous beams. In some embodiments, a CAD metric of thereceiving wireless device may be fed back to the transmitting wirelessdevice during a receiver-assisted procedure, e.g., through aclear-to-send (CTS) type signal.

In some embodiments, differing channel access schemes and/or channelaccess scheme sets may be utilized for different beams and/or differentantenna panels. For example, FIG. 14 illustrates an example of usingbeam dependent channel access schemes, according to some embodiments. Asshown, UE 106 may use a channel access scheme 1410 for a first beam anda channel access scheme 1412 for a second beam. In such a manner, UE 106may select a least restrict channel access scheme based on beam specificCAD measurements. Note that although UE 106 is shown, any wirelessdevice may implement such beam specific channel access schemes.

FIG. 15 illustrates a block diagram of an example of a method forchannel access detection (CAD) measurement to determine a channel accessscheme, according to some embodiments. The method shown in FIG. 15 maybe used in conjunction with any of the systems, methods, or devicesshown in the Figures, among other devices. In various embodiments, someof the method elements shown may be performed concurrently, in adifferent order than shown, or may be omitted. Additional methodelements may also be performed as desired. As shown, this method mayoperate as follows.

At 1502, a wireless device (e.g., such as UE 106, base station/pico cell102, and/or access point 112) may perform one or more CAD measurementson a first channel. In some embodiments, the first channel may be in afrequency range greater than 60 gigahertz. In some embodiments, thefirst channel may be in an unlicensed portion of the frequency spectrum.In some embodiments, the one or more CAD measurements may be performedat a first periodicity. In some embodiments, the first periodicity maybe based, at least in part, on traffic characteristics of the wirelessdevice. In some embodiments, the first periodicity may be configured bya network and/or specified by a standard or regulation, e.g.,regulations as promulgated by the Federal Communication Commission (FCC)or similar jurisdictional regulatory bodies, and/or standardspromulgated by 3GPP and/or IEEE, among other standards bodies. In someembodiments, the CAD measurement may be at least one of energy based,reference signal based, or a combination of energy based and referencesignal based.

In some embodiments, a CAD measurement duration may be specified by ameasurement window size. In such embodiments, the measurement windowsize may be configurable by a network. In some embodiments, themeasurement window size may be based, at least in part, on one or moreof traffic types or wireless device capabilities. In some embodiments,the measurement window size may include a portion of symbols in a frame.

In some embodiments, the one or more CAD measurements may be performedduring base station non-transmission intervals. In such embodiments, thebase station non-transmission intervals may be indicated by a slotformat indicator (SFI). In some embodiments, the SFI may indicate CADmeasurement resources via a value of “flexible”, where symbols indicatedby the SFI as “flexible” are non-skippable. In some embodiments, the SFImay indicate CAD measurement resources via a value of “CAD”. In someembodiments, the one or more CAD measurements may be performed during along cyclic prefix of an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing(OFDM) symbol.

At 1504, the wireless device may determine a CAD metric based on the oneor more CAD measurements. In some embodiments, the CAD metric may bebased, at least in part, on local jurisdictional requirements associatedwith channel access. In some embodiments, the CAD metric may bedetermined at a second periodicity. In some embodiments, the secondperiodicity may be a multiple of the first periodicity. In someembodiments, the second periodicity may be based, at least in part, ontraffic characteristics of the wireless device. In some embodiments, thesecond periodicity may be configured by a network and/or specified by astandard or regulation, e.g., regulations as promulgated by the FederalCommunication Commission (FCC) or similar jurisdictional regulatorybodies, and/or standards promulgated by 3GPP and/or IEEE, among otherstandards bodies. In some embodiments, the CAD metric may have anassociated expiration time. In some embodiments, the expiration time maybe configured by the network and/or specified by a standard orregulation, e.g., regulations as promulgated by the FederalCommunication Commission (FCC) or similar jurisdictional regulatorybodies, and/or standards promulgated by 3GPP and/or IEEE, among otherstandards bodies.

At 1506, the wireless device may select, for the first channel, a firstchannel access scheme from a plurality of channel access schemes basedon the CAD metric. In some embodiments, the wireless device may comparethe CAD metric to a threshold to select, for the first channel, thefirst channel access scheme from the plurality of channel accessschemes. In some embodiments, the first channel access scheme may bebased, at least in part, on local jurisdictional requirements associatedwith channel access. In some embodiments, the first channel accessscheme may include a first set of channel access procedures. In suchembodiments, the first set of channel access procedures may definephysical channels and signals to utilize respective channel procedureswithin the first channel access scheme. In some embodiments, when theCAD metric is below the threshold, the first channel access scheme mayinclude accessing a channel without using a listen before talkprocedure. In some embodiments, when the CAD metric is above thethreshold, the first channel access scheme may include accessing achannel using a listen before talk procedure. In some embodiments, whenthe CAD metric is below the threshold, the first channel access schememay include accessing a channel using a first listen before talkprocedure that is less restrictive than a second listen before talkprocedure used when the CAD metric is above the threshold. For example,in some embodiments, a listen before talk channel access procedure maybe considered more restrictive than a non-listen before talk channelaccess procedure. As another example, among non-listen before talkchannel access procedures, an energy detection threshold to determinewhether a channel is clear or not may correlate to restrictiveness,e.g., a higher energy detection threshold may be considered lessrestrictive than a lower energy detection threshold. In other words, asan energy detection threshold increases to determine whether a channelis clear or not, a level of restrictiveness to access the channeldecreases. As an additional example, a category 4 listen before talkprocedure may be considered more restrictive than a category 2 listenbefore talk procedure. Further, among category 4 listen before talkprocedures, a contention window size may correlate to restrictiveness,e.g., a longer duration contention window may be considered morerestrictive than a shorter duration contention window. In other words,as a size of a contention window increases (e.g., as a duration of thecontention window increases), a level of restrictiveness to access thechannel increases.

In some embodiments, the threshold may be configured by the networkand/or specified by a standard or regulation, e.g., regulations aspromulgated by the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) or similarjurisdictional regulatory bodies, and/or standards promulgated by 3GPPand/or IEEE, among other standards bodies. In some embodiments, thethreshold may be based, at least in part, on local jurisdictionalrequirements associated with channel access.

In some embodiments, the threshold may include a plurality ofthresholds. In such embodiments, the plurality of thresholds may defineone or more ranges. In some embodiments, at least one range of the oneor more ranges may include one or more sub-ranges. In such embodiments,each of the one or more sub-ranges may be associated with a set ofchannel access parameters of a channel access scheme associated with theat least one range. In some embodiments, each range of the one or moreranges may be associated with a channel access scheme and/or a set ofchannel access procedures. In some embodiments, when the CAD metric isin a first range of the one or more ranges, a channel may be accessedusing a first channel access scheme and/or a first set of channel accessprocedures. In some embodiments, when the CAD metric is in a secondrange of the one or more ranges, the channel may be accessed using asecond channel access scheme and/or a second set of channel accessprocedures, where the second channel access scheme may be morerestrictive than the first channel access scheme. In some embodiments,when the CAD metric is in a third range of the one or more ranges, thechannel may be accessed using a third channel access scheme and/or athird set of channel access procedures, where the third channel accessscheme may be more restrictive than the second channel access scheme. Insome embodiments, when the CAD metric is in a fourth range of the one ormore ranges, the channel may be accessed using a fourth channel accessscheme and/or a fourth set of channel access procedures, where thefourth channel access scheme may be more restrictive than the thirdchannel access scheme.

In some embodiments, the wireless device may determine an activation ofa radio of the wireless device. In such embodiments, in response to theactivation of the radio, the wireless device may decrease the firstperiodicity and/or the second periodicity to increase frequency of theone or more CAD measurements or CAD metric determination.

In some embodiments, the wireless device may be configured to use aplurality of beams for communication. In such embodiments, the CADmetric may a representative CAD metric based on CAD measurements acrossthe plurality of beams. In some embodiments, the plurality of beams maybe a set of simultaneous beams. In some embodiments, the representativeCAD metric may include at least one of a most restrictive CAD metric, aCAD metric from a configured beam, a CAD metric from a signaled beam,and/or a CAD metric from a randomly chosen beam of the plurality ofbeams.

In some embodiments, the wireless device may be configured to use aplurality of beams for communication. In such embodiments, the one ormore CAD measurements may include one or more CAD measurements for eachof the plurality of beams. In some embodiments, the CAD metric mayinclude a CAD metric for each of the plurality of beams. In someembodiments, a first channel access scheme for a first beam of theplurality of beams may be based on a first CAD metric determined for thefirst beam. In some embodiments, a second channel access scheme for asecond beam of the plurality of beams may be based on a second CADmetric determined for the second beam.

It is well understood that the use of personally identifiableinformation should follow privacy policies and practices that aregenerally recognized as meeting or exceeding industry or governmentalrequirements for maintaining the privacy of users. In particular,personally identifiable information data should be managed and handledso as to minimize risks of unintentional or unauthorized access or use,and the nature of authorized use should be clearly indicated to users.

Embodiments of the present disclosure may be realized in any of variousforms. For example, some embodiments may be realized as acomputer-implemented method, a computer-readable memory medium, or acomputer system. Other embodiments may be realized using one or morecustom-designed hardware devices such as ASICs. Still other embodimentsmay be realized using one or more programmable hardware elements such asFPGAs.

In some embodiments, a non-transitory computer-readable memory mediummay be configured so that it stores program instructions and/or data,where the program instructions, if executed by a computer system, causethe computer system to perform a method, e.g., any of the methodembodiments described herein, or, any combination of the methodembodiments described herein, or, any subset of any of the methodembodiments described herein, or, any combination of such subsets.

In some embodiments, a device (e.g., a UE 106) may be configured toinclude a processor (or a set of processors) and a memory medium, wherethe memory medium stores program instructions, where the processor isconfigured to read and execute the program instructions from the memorymedium, where the program instructions are executable to implement anyof the various method embodiments described herein (or, any combinationof the method embodiments described herein, or, any subset of any of themethod embodiments described herein, or, any combination of suchsubsets). The device may be realized in any of various forms.

Any of the methods described herein for operating a user equipment (UE)may be the basis of a corresponding method for operating a base station,by interpreting each message/signal X received by the UE in the downlinkas message/signal X transmitted by the base station, and eachmessage/signal Y transmitted in the uplink by the UE as a message/signalY received by the base station.

Although the embodiments above have been described in considerabledetail, numerous variations and modifications will become apparent tothose skilled in the art once the above disclosure is fully appreciated.It is intended that the following claims be interpreted to embrace allsuch variations and modifications.

1. A wireless device, comprising: at least one antenna; at least oneradio, wherein the at least one radio is configured to perform cellularcommunication using at least one radio access technology (RAT); and oneor more processors coupled to the at least one radio, wherein the one ormore processors and the at least one radio are configured to performvoice and/or data communications; wherein the one or more processors areconfigured to cause the wireless device to: perform one or more CADmeasurements at a first periodicity on a first channel; determine a CADmetric based on the one or more CAD measurements at a secondperiodicity; and select, for the first channel, a first channel accessscheme from a plurality of channel access schemes based on comparison ofthe CAD metric to a threshold.
 2. The wireless device of claim 1,wherein, when the CAD metric is below the threshold, the first channelaccess scheme includes accessing a channel without using a listen beforetalk procedure; and wherein, when the CAD metric is above the threshold,the first channel access scheme includes accessing a channel using alisten before talk procedure.
 3. The wireless device of claim 1,wherein, when the CAD metric is below the threshold, the first channelaccess scheme includes accessing a channel using a first listen beforetalk procedure that is less restrictive than a second listen before talkprocedure used when the CAD metric is above the threshold.
 4. Thewireless device of claim 1, wherein the first periodicity is based, atleast in part, on traffic characteristics of the wireless device.
 5. Thewireless device of claim 1, wherein the second periodicity is a multipleof the first periodicity.
 6. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein thefirst periodicity is configured by a network.
 7. The wireless device ofclaim 1, wherein the CAD metric has an associated expiration time. 8.The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the first channel access schemeincludes a first set of channel access procedures, and wherein the firstset of channel access procedures define physical channels and signals toutilize respective channel procedures within the first channel accessscheme.
 9. (canceled)
 10. (canceled)
 11. An apparatus, comprising: amemory; and a processor in communication with the memory, wherein theprocessor is configured to: perform one or more CAD measurements at afirst periodicity on a first channel; determine a CAD metric based onthe one or more CAD measurements at a second periodicity; and select,for the first channel, a first set of channel access procedures from aplurality of channel access procedures based on comparison of the CADmetric to a threshold.
 12. (canceled)
 13. The apparatus of claim 11,wherein the threshold includes a plurality of thresholds; wherein theplurality of thresholds define one or more ranges; wherein each range ofthe one or more ranges is associated with a set of channel accessprocedures; wherein, when the CAD metric is in a first range of the oneor more ranges, a channel is accessed using a first set of channelaccess procedures; wherein, when the CAD metric is in a second range ofthe one or more ranges, the channel is accessed using a second set ofchannel access procedures, wherein the second set of channel accessprocedures is more restrictive than the set of channel accessprocedures; wherein, when the CAD metric is in a third range of the oneor more ranges, the channel is accessed using a third set of channelaccess procedures, wherein the third set of channel access procedures ismore restrictive than the second set of channel access procedures; andwherein, when the CAD metric is in a fourth range of the one or moreranges, the channel is accessed using a fourth set of channel accessprocedures, wherein the fourth set of channel access procedures is morerestrictive than the third set of channel access procedures.
 14. Theapparatus of claim 11, wherein the threshold includes a plurality ofthresholds, wherein the plurality of thresholds define one or moreranges, wherein each range of the one or more ranges is associated witha set of channel access procedures, wherein at least one range of theone or more ranges includes one or more sub-ranges, wherein each of theone or more sub-ranges is associated with a sub-set of channel accessparameters of a set of channel parameters associated with the at leastone range.
 15. (canceled)
 16. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein a CADmeasurement duration is specified by a measurement window size, whereinthe measurement window size is configurable by a network, wherein themeasurement window size is based, at least in part, on one or more oftraffic types or wireless device capabilities, and wherein themeasurement window size includes a portion of symbols in a frame. 17.The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the one or more CAD measurements areperformed during base station non-transmission intervals, wherein thebase station non-transmission intervals are indicated by a slot formatindicator (SFI), wherein the SFI indicates CAD measurement resources viaa value of “flexible”, wherein symbols indicated by the SFI as“flexible” are non-skippable, and wherein the SFI indicates CADmeasurement resources via a value of “CAD”.
 18. (canceled) 19.(canceled)
 20. A non-transitory computer readable memory medium storingprogram instructions executable by processing circuitry to cause awireless device to: perform one or more CAD measurements at a firstperiodicity on a first channel; determine a CAD metric based on the oneor more CAD measurements at a second periodicity; and select, for thefirst channel, a first channel access scheme from a plurality of channelaccess schemes based on comparison of the CAD metric to a threshold,wherein, when the CAD metric is below the threshold, the first channelaccess scheme includes accessing a channel using a first listen beforetalk procedure that is less restrictive than a second listen before talkprocedure used when the CAD metric is above the threshold.
 21. Thenon-transitory computer readable memory medium of claim 20, wherein theone or more CAD measurements are performed during a long cyclic prefixof an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbol.
 22. Thenon-transitory computer readable memory medium of claim 20, wherein theprogram instructions are further executable to cause the wireless deviceto: determine an activation of a radio of the wireless device; and inresponse to the activation of the radio, decrease the first periodicityor second periodicity to increase frequency of the one or more CADmeasurements or CAD metric determination.
 23. The non-transitorycomputer readable memory medium of claim 20, wherein the wireless deviceis configured to use a plurality of beams for communication, and whereinthe CAD metric is a representative CAD metric based on CAD measurementsacross the plurality of beams.
 24. (canceled)
 25. (canceled)
 26. Thenon-transitory computer readable memory medium of claim 20, wherein thewireless device is configured to use a plurality of beams forcommunication, wherein the one or more CAD measurements include one ormore CAD measurements for each of the plurality of beams, wherein theCAD metric includes a CAD metric for each of the plurality of beams,wherein a first channel access scheme for a first beam of the pluralityof beams is based on a first CAD metric determined for the first beam,and wherein a second channel access scheme for a second beam of theplurality of beams is based on a second CAD metric determined for thesecond beam.
 27. (canceled)
 28. The non-transitory computer readablememory medium of claim 20, wherein the wireless device comprises atleast one of a user equipment device, a base station, an access point,or a pico cell.
 29. The non-transitory computer readable memory mediumof claim 20, wherein the first channel is in at least one of: afrequency range greater than 60 gigahertz; or an unlicensed portion ofthe frequency spectrum.
 30. (canceled)